Ponugleti: Bhu Bharati Act, portal to be rolled out by June 2

Hyderabad:Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced that the Bhu Bharati Act and its accompanying digital portal will be fully operational across Telangana by June 2. The announcement came during the formal launch of the Bhu Bharati Act at Shilpakala Vedika on Monday.

To ensure a smooth rollout, a pilot project has begun in four mandals in Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Mulugu and Kamareddy districts. “Officials will directly visit residents, receive grievances and resolve them within 15 days. The initiative seeks to create a transparent, secure land administration system while addressing long-standing revenue issues,” Srinivas Reddy said.

From April 17, district collectors will lead awareness campaigns in all mandals to educate the public on the new Act and its implications. In early May, one mandal in each of the remaining 29 districts will be selected for further pilot implementation.

Calling the Bhu Bharati Act the fulfillment of a personal mission, Srinivas Reddy said, “This legislation ensures complete security and assurance for the lands of Telangana’s people.” He added that the reform was shaped by feedback from diverse communities and will continue to evolve through future amendments.

Criticising the previous Dharani Act introduced by the BRS government in 2018, Ponguleti said it was drafted in secrecy and led to confusion and unrest. “Even the revenue system couldn’t function properly, forced to dance to the whims of a few in power,” he said, accusing the former regime of dismantling the village administrative structure for personal gain.

Despite opposition from BRS members during the legislative process, the Congress government remained firm on its electoral promise. Ponguleti expressed confidence that unlike Dharani, which became defunct within three years, the Bhu Bharati Act 2025 will serve the people for the next century.

Urging revenue department staff to prioritise the poor, Dalits and Adivasis, he called for seamless implementation of the Act across the state. “This is a people’s Act, and its success lies in its reach and fairness,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka described the launch as a “historic occasion” for Telangana. He said the Act was drafted in a simple fashion to ensure accessibility and aims to safeguard the land rights of citizens.

Bhatti criticised the Dharani Act as a “curse for farmers,” claiming it stripped land rights of over 24 lakh acres previously allotted to the poor. Recalling his 2023 People’s March Padayatra, he said many farmers had shared their distress over lost rights.

He reaffirmed that the Congress had pledged to repeal Dharani and replace it with a people-friendly law. “Today, we fulfilled that promise,” Bhatti said, dedicating the Bhu Bharati Act to the farmers of Telangana and marking the dawn of a new Indiramma Rajyam.